A Season of Reflection & Vision
Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Gratitude
This year has been a significant journey of growth and learning. Through our collective efforts, we've not only navigated challenges and opportunities but also deepened our commitment to the communities we serve.
Your steadfast support as our investors, clients, and partners has been a cornerstone of these efforts, enabling us to make meaningful contributions beyond financial metrics. For this, we are immensely grateful.
Embracing our Roles as River Guides
In the dynamic world of impact investing, we have embraced our roles as 'river guides'. This metaphor reflects our commitment and expertise in steering through the intricacies of responsible, ethical, and impact investing. As diligent guides, we've adeptly navigated the complexities of the market across decades, ensuring safe passage and meaningful and profitable journeys for you, our valued investors, clients, and partners. This year especially, we have strengthened this commitment, reinforcing our dedication to guiding investments towards creating lasting, positive impacts.
Forging Strong Partnerships for Greater Impact
This year has also highlighted the power of collaboration. These alliances have not only reinforced our mission but have also paved the way for innovative investment opportunities.
Our Deputy CIO conducting on-the-ground research for housing projects in underserved communities in New Zealand.
Some of these highlights include:
We witnessed an increased interest and engagement from our clients, notably institutions and foundations, in aligning their investment portfolios with the Impact Management Project's A, B, and C classification framework. Their continued partnership with us to refine and expand their impact investing portfolios has been a highlight of our collaborative efforts.
Our work with heart-aligned foundations, trusts, and family offices has been instrumental in constructing impactful portfolios across Australia, Asia, and the US, furthering our commitment to global sustainable and impactful investment. We are truly grateful and humbled to work on this common mission with our clients and partners.
We have been at the forefront of providing expert guidance, assisting investors in deepening their impact journey and addressing their country's specific impact needs.
A key focus has been nurturing and deepening our connections with First Nations communities globally. This includes our collaboration with a Maori Trust in New Zealand and a First Australians Organisation, who are both passionately committed to supporting families and communities.
In partnership with a data analytics organisation, we embarked on a project to measure subjective well-being for a significant Asian foundation. This initiative aligns with our commitment to support gender lens goals and impact investing across Asia.
Our business in the US has seen remarkable growth, attracting values-aligned investors and bolstering our screening and research capabilities.
We have also been engaged with regional councils, trusts, and foundations in New Zealand, working collaboratively to launch a fund to support housing in local underserved communities.
Expanding Our Reach
Looking towards 2024, we are set on expanding our impact, driven by a commitment to serve more heart-aligned and underserved impact investors globally. Our focus includes engaging with large Iwis (Indigenous Māori tribal groups) in New Zealand and investors in Australia, the US and Asia, offering them investment opportunities aligned with their values. This strategic expansion aims to extend our ethical and impact investing expertise to new yet purposefully selected markets.
From our Brightlight family to yours, Merry Christmas!
As we celebrate this festive season and usher in a new year, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you for being part of our journey.
Your trust and partnership inspire us to reach new heights and drive forward with our mission to transform lives.
Sam Richards,
Managing Director, Brightlight